Saturday, December 10, 2011

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

Have I said sorry lately?  I feel like I have to every time I post because of my prolonged absences.  Fortunately, I will be done with school in 5 days....and I mean really done....so hopefully my posts will pick up a bit!  I've been super busy lately with school, two jobs and preparing for a craft market!  

We had the FREEdom Market today in downtown Fort Collins, and what a fun show!  Thanks to everyone who came downtown to support local artists!  In preparation for the event, each of the vendors provided cookies to pass out in Old Town and spread the word about the craft show.  I decided to make button shaped cookies...because...clearly...I needed yet another craft project to complete the week before final exams.

Luckily they were super easy.  I decided to make sugar cookies, 
but I've seen them done with peanut butter cookies also.

First, roll your cookie dough into small balls.  
For a size reference, the dough fit in a small soda cap.


As soon as they come out of the oven, press a lid onto the cookies to make the ridge around the edge.  This time I used the lid of a milk bottle; it was slightly bigger than the soda lid.  Then I used the flat end of a skewer to press four holes into the center of the cookie.  


And you're done!  Share your crafty goodness and enjoy!




Monday, October 17, 2011

Little Miss Homemaker

 I woke up this morning and it really was Fall.  Cold & windy, and a pain to ride my bike in.  
But I came home from class and decided to embrace it.  I love fall.  
And I love the promise of winter around the corner. 
Makes me want to get out my knitting - and cook!

For dinner:  my sister's white chicken chili.  


To top it off:  strawberry rhubarb hand pies, an idea I got from this blog.  
Luckily, I still had some of my grandpa's rhubarb that I had frozen during the summer.


yum yum delicioso

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Time for Fall!

I recently shared a little preview of what I stitched up for the Sustainable Living Fair fashion show.  
The fashion show was last weekend, and Susan looked great in my favorite piece, 
this beautiful 1960's mustard cocktail dress.  
Thanks Susan!
 

So now that the fair is over....what should I make for myself?  
I have a feeling it'll be one of these Colette patterns!

     

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Stitch by Stitch

A preview of what I've been working on for the Sustainable Living Fair...


Mama Said Sew is in charge of the fashion show this year, and each of 
us girls from the shop will be making some pieces.  All of my clothing will be constructed 
from my grandma's patterns from the 60's and 70's with thrifted materials.   


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A Very Big Thank You.

I owe a big thank you to Danielle of DeFiore Photography for letting me use one of her photos as my new banner!  Danielle was very sweet to volunteer her time and talents for a photo shoot of each of us girls who work at Mama Said Sew in downtown Fort Collins.  The final project can be seen in the shop as a tribute to the shop's 1 year anniversary.  

I feel so lucky to have worked with Danielle!  Here are a few of my favorite shots.  


 

(Images belong to Defiore Photography.  Please do not use them without permission.)

Thanks again!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Folklore Bag

Yet another Folklore Bag from the book One Yard Wonders. 
This time I used some Echino fabric and I love how it turned out! 
You can find my pattern review here

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ironing Board Makeover

Before I get too busy with my internship, I wanted share with you a project I finished a few weeks ago.  

My very kind room-mate let me take over her ironing board with all of my sewing projects for the last 2 years.  After hours and hours of fusing interfacing to fabric, the resulting damage to the ironing board cover was... yuck.  

Sooooooo... I used The Stitchin' Chicken's ironing board cover tutorial which you can find here.  


It was super easy & came together very quickly!  

Monday, March 28, 2011

Catch-up

Wow, it has been a while.   So much has happened recently I don't know where to start!  

But we'll start here I guess.

I moved to San Diego.  Yesterday!  That's another story...but...it prompted some very fine people to celebrate with me before I left Fort Collins.  


The gals at Mama Said Sew were so sweet to throw me a wonderful dinner 
at what I thought was going to be a low-key crafty night.  



...the delicious cake Susan made!


....just a few of the crafty things I was gifted at the dinner.  An awesome beach bag the girls made, a great knitting bag my friend Tara of Tinkerfrog made, and a yard of Liberty of London fabric.  How lucky am I???


My long-time friends of Boomer Music also threw me a shin-dig, and my very talented friend Nicole made this awesome cake, complete with little gnome friends!  

Thanks friends, for the great send-off!  I will update soon with my adventures in San Diego!



Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Fishy Fishy! (part 2)


Looks like the cat likes it!  It went to a good home...

Fishy Fishy!

That's right.  It's done!  
The cat bed in the shape of a fish.  
Done.  
Finito.  


And let me tell you......never again!!!



Ok, it wasn't all bad.  
Turns out, it's the perfect size for your head.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Yarn Over

Ok...soooooo....this wasn't on the list.  
But plans change.  

I needed a project that was mindless...and portable.  My knitting project doesn't really fit that description at the moment, so I picked up some sale yarn & started crocheting these cute little hearts.  (find the free pattern here

Adorable....if I do say so myself.  

"What's it for?" roommate said....
"Stress relief."

And so it is. 
love.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Pattern Review: Folklore Bag

I've made the Folklore Bag from One-Yard Wonders a few times now, and I love love love it!  


 But I can't say I love how the pattern is laid out.  So, I thought I'd share a few tips with anyone who is thinking of making this cute bag, and hopefully I will save you some time & frustration!  

1.  I've found with a lot of  craft books & magazines, there are bound to be pattern corrections.  You can find a pattern correction for this bag here, under "Folklore Bag."  Basically, you need to move the outer pleat markings for the bag front/back farther to each edge 1/2", so there is 1-1/8" between each set of pleat markings.  

2.  When the publishers fixed the pleats, they forgot to fix the size of the Top Band.  From the written pattern piece, I cut just inside the seam allowance on either narrow end, so the straight edge measures 13".
3.  Don't bother topstitching around the side/bottom as they tell you to do in step 4, unless you really feel like doing extra work.  I can see how it would reinforce the seams if it was a big bag, but I don't think anyone will be carrying bricks in this little purse.  

4.  When attaching the Top Band to the bag (step 6), they tell you to press the bottom raw edge under 1/2", position the band over the bag with the pieces overlapping 1/2", and then topstitch.  WHAT???  It would be impossible to preserve that bottom curve, which is really a nice detail of the bag.  Also, such a pain to pin in place! Instead, this is what I did:  
*Pin 2 top band pieces right sides together.  Stitch both short sides to make a circular band. 
*Line up the bottom raw edge of the top band with the raw edge of the exterior bag, centering the top band's seams on each side.  Right sides should be facing.  Pin and stitch 1/2" around the edge.  
*Flip the top band upwards, press seam allowances up toward the band, and edgestitch along the bottom edge of the band, making sure you preserve the curved edge.  
*Do the same for the lining.

5.  For the straps, they tell you to press under both long edges 1/2", fold in half lengthwise, and edgestitch (step 8).  I suggest doing this instead:
*Fold strap in half lengthwise, right sides together.  Stitch 1/2" seam from the raw edges.  Turn right side out.  Press.  Edgestitch each length of the strap.  

And voila!  A much easier Folklore Bag!  I hope this helps!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Roses are Red

A skirt in memory of my grandmother, who loved her rose garden.


 "Flirting the Issue" skirt
pattern by Anna Maria Horner, found here

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Foam-tastic

My to-do list seems to be working, as I have actually been quite productive this week!

As you already know, I can cross #2 off of my list- the little gnome is stitched up & riding dinos.

I've been working on the custom work for my friend Nicole, and am slowly seeing progress.  It's a cat bed in the shape of a fish.  Well, it isn't right now.
But it will be.
Someday.

From my work today, I thought I'd share with you a few tips for sewing fabric to foam:
#1  Use a heavy-duty needle.  Foam is thick!
#2  If you are sewing fabric to only one side of the foam, you need to put something on the foam side also.  If you don't, the foam gets stuck & won't feed through your machine.  My pattern suggested tissue paper.  I didn't have any in the house, so I used wax paper which seems to be working fine, though tissue paper might tear away a bit easier.
#3  Just don't do it.  You will get frustrated.  You will want to hit a wall.
(Or do.  But don't say I didn't warn you.)

So that's that.  At least it's getting done!

Instead of sharing a pic of the fish which is not yet a fish, I will leave you with a previous project that was a success:  
a sweet little towel made from Melody Miller's newest line of fabric:  
don't you just love the pom-poms?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

A Gnome Story

One day, Mr. Gnome was creepin' around when he saw a 
lovely gnome girl through the bushes.
 Mr. Gnome tried to approach Miss Gnome, but she ran, 
as young gnomes are known to do.  
 Mr. Gnome finally caught up to the young girl at the end of a beautiful rainbow.  
 The day was coming to an end, so they hitched a ride on a dinosaur.
 And they lived happily ever after.  On a bench.  Outside the post office.


*no gnomes were harmed in the making of this blog*  
Mr. Gnome was stitched by the B.F. (as a Christmas gift)
Miss Gnome was stitched by me!  (as a Valentine's gift)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

pattern & supplies from Mama Said Sew, a wonderful fabric store that I work at in downtown, Fort Collins

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Get Your Craft On

One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog is to keep myself excited about crafting.  I'm moving soon to sunny San Diego for a really amazing Music Therapy internship.  It'll be a lot of work and a lot of fun but....I need to make sure I make time for sewing, which in the past year or so I've found to be a great creative outlet for me.

Here are the things I'd like to get done before loading up my life in a tiny little car and driving 3 states away:

1.  Finish up a custom item for my coworker.  (Sorry, Nicole...this has taken me forever!)
2.  Stitch up the BF's Valentine's gift.  I'm cuttin' it close.  It may or may not involve gnomes...
3.  Add 5 items to my Etsy shop.  There are none.   This is sad.
4.  Did I mention finish some custom work for Nicole???  It has taken me months!  To be fair, it is for her cat.  I don't like cats.  But I do like Nicole.
5.  Finish my Amy Butler Sophia Carry-all bag!  I'm using Moda's It's a Hoot twill in cherry.
    Its A Hoot  Tonal Cherry
6.  Make some custom headbands. 

7.  Make some more headbands to sell in San Diego.  (hey, look!  They're reversible!)


8.  Make this awesome Built By Wendy Top- Simplicity #3964!
photo belongs to Built By Wendy
9.  Try Anna Maria Horner's newest free pattern- the Flirting the Issue Skirt, which I have been anxiously awaiting for months...it's the perfect excuse to get some of her voile!
innoncent.crush.beauty.shot
photo belongs to Anna Maria Horner
you can find the pattern here
10.  Most importantly, cuddle with my mom.
11.  Oh yeah, read and practice pretty much everyday before my internship.  Best get started...